I'm more of a 5'3'' turnip than a 6'6'' carrot.

A few thoughts from today's training swim.

Still trying to keep to the training plan but struggling to fit in Mummying, wifeing (I'm quite lucky in that I get paid to be a wife, but it does mean that I actually have to do it - long story....), pretty much full time work, weekend duties, housework, so the week of training plan tends to be two weeks but I am getting better.

Weeks of skills in the pool mean that now I am starting to feel like what was not natural a few weeks ago is starting to get there. I have introduced bilateral breathing which I never thought I could do, but with rotation getting there this seems to be easier than it was before. Arms feel more natural and my finger tip drills seem to be paying off. I'm speeding up again and my watch even buzzed at me today telling me I had a 750m record! Result.

But today also felt like swimming through treacle. A lady was in the lane with me and she looked gorgeous, fluid and seemed to just glide through the water. She was overtaking me about every four lengths which irritates me. I'm irritated with myself - not her, I was just in her way and I hate people being in my way, so I must have been annoying her so that annoyed me. If you see what I mean. Then she stood up at the end of the pool and was probably a good 8'' taller than me, and thin to boot. That got me thinking about the shape of swimmers. I don't tend to compare people to vegetables, but swimmers tend to be carrots; long and thin with big shoulders. I am not a carrot. I'm dumpy. 5'3''. Struggle with weight (lazy). Big bum. Turnip.

And there I am again, not thinking about my stroke. Concentration span of a goldfish. Quite bizarre what you end up thinking in the pool.

However, having recently read Ross Edgeley's book, The Art of Resilience, I know that I can and will be a better 'athlete'. He is also not a carrot. He is certainly not a turnip. He is however a complete inspiration. I will channel my inner Ross Edgeley. Maybe one day I will swim around Britain. I'll have to get over the jellyphobia.

I've also recently read Mini Anderson's Beyond Impossible. Amazing woman. I hate running but I do occasionally do it out of desperation. But what a fit mind that she has. Must channel her too.

Or maybe I should just be myself?

Drove home after pool swim. Wistfully looked at river which looks like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Still too high to swim in. Bah.

Time to stop rambling.

#rossedgeley #mimianderson #jellyfish #swimtraining #hatethepool #missingopenwater #outdoorswimmer #marathonswimtraining